Archive for the 'Hampus Lindholm' Tag Under 'Ducks' Category

TAMPA, Fla. – Hampus Lindholm won’t be in the lineup when the Ducks take on the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday night at Amalie Arena.

Lindholm has an upper-body injury that he suffered during the first period Thursday against Florida. The defenseman did not take a regular shift with partner Josh Manson late in the first period but he returned in the second played the balance of the game.

The injury does not appear to be serious as Lindholm skated with scratches Nate Thompson (shoulder) and Michael Sgarbossa (healthy) after most of his teammates left the ice following the optional morning skate. A Ducks spokesman said Lindholm is day to day.

Korbinian Holzer will draw back in for his 10th game of the season after sitting out Friday against the Panthers. It isn’t clear who Holzer will play with, although it’s possible that Coach Bruce Boudreau will play with him with Manson and won’t break up the other two defense pairings.

Veteran Shane O'Brien was called from up San Diego (AHL) to serve as an insurance defenseman.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Some notes, quotes and other musings from the Ducks’ 4-0 road win over Vancouver at Rogers Arena on Tuesday night …

-- Bruce Boudreau likes a good defensive game. Honest.

His teams in Washington and now Anaheim have had the reputation of being a little lacking on that side of the puck, at least when it comes having one that can win a Stanley Cup. And his attacking, offensive-minded style plays right into that.

Boudreau was also a big-time scorer at that junior and American Hockey League level as a player so that rounds out the perception that he’s all about offense. But he knows that defense will be what helps him shed the label that he can’t win in the playoffs.

A thorough beating administered to the Canucks for their sixth straight victory had the Ducks feeling like they have the capabilities to be a shutdown group. Vancouver had just 17 shots on goal – seven coming in the last two periods – and the Ducks made it an easy night for goalie Frederik Andersen.

ANAHEIM – Some notes, quotes and other musings from the Ducks’ 5-1 win over New Jersey on Friday night …

-- A second straight victory with a four-goal margin had Ducks television reporter Kent French using the words “unchartered territory” when he addressed Coach Bruce Boudreau with his first post-game question.

Boudreau liked that reference and it feels that way with this group. The Ducks have often been a high-wire act, either holding on to third-period leads or coming back from deficits or pulling out victories beyond regulation.

There’s often been one part of their game missing even as they’ve racked up 29 wins in 45 games. The Ducks have now put together two straight complete efforts, albeit against two run-of-the-mill Eastern Conference clubs in Toronto and New Jersey.

They'll take their good feelings into a Saturday night date with the Kings at Staples Center.

MONTREAL -- Some notes, quotes and other musings from the Ducks’ 2-1 victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday night …

-- In a Western Conference playoff picture that is looking surprising clear when the season isn’t even half over, the Ducks are in the enviable position of looking down on every other team when it comes to the standings.

Maybe it is a bit of a surprise. There was a fair amount of change over the summer and the reshaped and changing roster has taken its full share of hits due to a multitude of injuries and the mumps virus after 34 games.

Efforts like the one against the Canadiens offered up another example of the Ducks plowing through any adversity they come along. And they may be learning something about themselves along the way.

DALLAS – Some notes, quotes and other musings from the Ducks’ 2-1 overtime win over Dallas on Friday night …

-- Is defense becoming the Ducks’ calling card? They’re not known for it and the breakdowns in the playoffs are a still-fresh reminder of their occasional struggles at key times but the numbers in 2014-15 look pretty promising.

Since allowing six goals in their season-opening loss to Pittsburgh, the Ducks have given up just 16 in the 11 games since. They’ve also allowed only three goals on the first three legs of their road trip that culminates Sunday in Colorado.

After shutting out Chicago on Tuesday, the Ducks turned in another fine effort in limiting the Stars to just one shot in the second period and only 22 for the game.

ANAHEIM -- Hampus Lindholm has been impressive as a rookie for the Ducks and fortunate to be with them as well.

At 20, Lindholm isn't part of some rebuilding effort in another NHL locale trying to develop his smooth all-around game while dealing with loss after loss. The smooth-skating, soft-spoken Swede is doing it for a 54-win club that has designs on a long playoff run.

"You just try to work hard," Lindholm said Friday as the Ducks prepared for Game 2 of their first-round series against Dallas. "It's very nice playing on a team like this, I must say. A lot of good personalities too in this locker room."

Lindholm made his NHL playoff debut Wednesday, playing 16 minutes, 46 seconds of his usual sound, smart hockey in the Ducks' 4-3 win. He wasn't on the ice for any of the goals against, while recording a shot on goal and getting two of the club's 21 blocked shots.

When the Ducks put their minds to something, they are really something. And they’ve been truly something in a regular season that’s already in the record books for the most wins. One more among their final seven games and they’ll reach 50 for the first time.

WASHINGTON -- Hampus Lindholm leads all NHL players with a plus-22 rating and is building a case for Calder Trophy consideration as the league's top rookie.

It didn't keep the 19-year-old Lindholm from sitting in the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum press box on Saturday as the Ducks came back to beat the New York Islanders.

Ducks coach Bruce Boudreau simply felt Lindholm needed a break as the team was coming off a win in New Jersey the night before. And the surprise move paid off two nights later.

It was Lindholm who came up with the latest heroics for a team that's now won an NHL season-best nine straight games, The smooth-skating, beyond-his-years defenseman scored with 5:36 left to give the Ducks a 3-2 win over the Washington Capitals.

SAN JOSE -- Ben Lovejoy was supposed to be on the third pairing. Hampus Lindholm was supposed to need more seasoning in the minors. Sami Vatanen was supposed to battle more experienced teammates for ice time.

Heck, Nolan Yonkman wasn't supposed to be here at all.

The reality is all are playing key roles from one extent to another for the Ducks due to their decimated defense corps. And they've helped keep them afloat while the injured parties are on the mend.

Lovejoy has been shouldering a larger load than ever in teaming with Cam Fowler as a duo that has often acted as a shutdown tandem of late. His ice time has soared of late with 21 minutes or more played in four of his last five games.